Among all the difficulties and all of the questions surrounding this year’s baseball season, one of the toughest choices of all is for graduating student-athletes to select the next step academically and athletically. For Oak Lawn Community High School’s Ben Cash, that decision has been made. He recently signed a letter of intent to attend Illinois Institute of Technology and continue his baseball career at the collegiate level.
“In college, I’m thrilled that I am going to be able to study at such a high quality school where I can primarily focus on my areas of study,” Cash said. “I’m looking forward to advance my skills in engineering and taking everything college has to offer for me. Athletically, I’m pumped to play at the next level where the competition just keeps getting tougher. I’m excited to compete for a spot on the field and playing time as well as competing with my new team on the field.”
Cash, a pitcher, catcher and infielder, is planning to major in Mechanical engineering while still playing baseball next year. He is slated to be captain of the Spartans this year as a senior and is aiming for team success on the field.
“With the high school baseball season coming soon, I am most excited to get one last season with my teammates,” Cash said. “Most of the guys, I’ve been playing with or against since I was a little kid. I’ve seen all of us improve in many different areas throughout the seasons so I’m super pumped to get this last ride with them before we all move onto the next stages. It’ll be a great time to showcase all we’ve been working for throughout the years and just an overall fun experience to share with my guys.”
He is a four-year varsity player at Oak Lawn and rarely misses off-season workouts and leads by example on the field. A memorable success came in a 2019 Illinois High School Association Regional Semifinal against Richards. Cash delivered a dramatic, run-scoring hit that sent the game into extra innings, eventually leading to a win. It is this kind of performance under pressure that has highlighted his career as a Spartan.
In addition, he also volunteers his time at the US Baseball Academy and other kids’ camps for the sport and continues to shine in the classroom as well.